Sealing tool



Aug. 10, 1954 M. J. QUILLINAN SEALING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 23, 1950 1954 M. J. QUILLINAN 2,685,997

SEALING TOOL Patented Aug. 10, 1954 UNITED STATE ATENT OFFICE SEALING TOOL Michael J. Quillinan, Bronx, N. Y. Application October 23, 1950, Serial No. 191,640

9 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to sealing tools and has particular reference to a tool useful for sealing frangible capseals in place upon closure openings.

Sealing tools in use in the container industry today require such uniformity of operation as will insure the proper sealing of a capseal in place with respect to a container closure opening. With the increasing ranges exhibited in the chemical activity of products stored and shipped in containers has come the need for capseals offering further assurances that leaking will not occur. Leakproof closures are the watchword and stemming from this in the collateral demand for high sealing tool eiliciency, not only in proper sealing of the closure, but also in tool life and tool maintainability.

While tool performance may be initially high in executing the sealing function upon capseals and caps, inthe main, instances of leakers in container closures occur most frequently when continued usage has resulted in excessive wear and tear in the sealing tools operating parts and correspondingly poor sealing integrity for the closure. Since sealing operations take place in far-removed as well as proximate areas of the world, a systematic check upon the tool's performance seems unlikely to meet with success, and so, the tool in addition to having durability and a long period of usefulness, must possess some means Within itself for automatically compensating for tool maladjustments resulting from the loss of precision between friction surfaces.

Since permanence of such capseals themselves is an additive feature to high sealing integrity, and, since ease of application of the capseal wards off slovenly practices by the labor used to insert them in place, a capseal structure hidden within the protective confines of the closure opening and made of light gauge frangible material is desired. It remains to provide a tool which will execute the sealing operation upon such capseal struc tures and yet will keep in adjustment throughout its period of use.

Accordingly, the instant tool contemplates such needs and is capable of ready manipulation using a minimum of parts and requiring little or no adjustment, the sealing elements of the tool being resiliently axially mounted and having a distinct rocking action for automatically compensating tool maladjustments.

Briefly, the invention comprises a plurality of sealing teeth arranged about a tool axis. The teeth are designed to move primarily in a lateral direction along a linear path so that the teeth.

do not tilt. Means are provided which support the teeth each at two points and displace the same laterally without rocking as the teeth are displaced over these points. Means are provided whereby these two points are resiliently spaced by spring means. Should wear occur on either of these two points in an amount greater than on the other point, and the teeth become suspended on but one point as a result, said spring means yield to again establish what may be termed two point suspension. This assures uniform lateral displacement without a pre-tilt. Also, should wear occur on the working faces of the teeth as they engage a capseal wall, means are provided whereby said spring means will again yield and said teeth will rotate or rock with respect to the tool axis after the teeth have been displaced to their lateral extremity without rocking. This provides an added tucking action for the capseal. Other means are provided for maintaining the teeth evenly and uniformly operable with respect to the balance of the tool either during linear displacement or during rocking.

One of the objects of the invention, therefore, is to provide a sealing tool of simple construction which provides automatic compensating means within the tool assembly and reduces and eliminates the need for servicing the assembly of parts of said tool.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sealing tool which provides superior radial displacement of the operable parts of a sealing tool assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sealing tool which, in addition to providing sufficient radial displacement of the tools operable parts, maintains said parts in uniform relationship, both axially and radially during tool operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sealing tool which has automatic rotating means provided on the operable portion of said tool to maintain the engaging parts of said tool in close relationship with the annular contours, resulting in a cap and capseal of the character to be described.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a sealing tool, the radially operable parts of which execute the sealing operation on a capseal with the high degree of compression.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sealing tool having superior qualities of slurability, ruggedness and long economical life.

Figure l is a top plan view of the sealing tool with a fragment of the tool housing broken away 3 to show the tool teeth in relation to the remainder of the tool,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same tool,

Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation view of the tool poised in place upon a typical closure opening ready for the execution of the sealing operation.

While Figure i is a similar sectional side eleva tion view of the tool in Figure 3 substantially at the end of the sealing operation.

Referring to the drawings the tool has a longitudinal spindle it about which are arranged a plurality of engaging teeth l.

These teeth are also arranged at their lower position around a shoulder i2 integral with spindle is and terminating at its outer regions in a domed bearing area :3. Resting upon the shoulder i2 is a compressible spring it which coils upward a substantial distance around the spindle is and supports, at its upper extremity, a bearing collar iii which is in slidable relation to the spindle iii.

Each of the engaging teeth H are supported by the domed bearing area l3 and the bearing collar i5 and are restrained in position about the spindle by the tension of a circuitous circumferential spring is which embraces the teeth substantially at their midpoints and thereby keeps the teeth substantially in yielding engagement with the above bearing surfaces. The set of teeth I! are contained within and are surrounded by a housing ll which has a shirt portion S8 at its lower extremity which depends from a bell-like dome ii The dome flattens out toward the tool axis as at 23 and is perforate at its centerpcint 2! to allow the spindle to pass clearly upward therethrough. On the under and inner portions of the housing 5'. are provided a series of radially extending tracks 22. These tracks 22 follow the contour of the inner surfaces of both the fiat portion 25 and the dome is of the tool housing so as to be uniform in height and width, commencing at the perforate area 2|, and continuing outwardly and thence downwardly to the point where the dome it joins the skirt portion i3, whereat the tracks diminish. These tracks 22 follow corresponding grooves 23 on each of the respective teeth H so as to substantially mate therewith and control their radial displacement. These grooves 33 follow along the upper and outer periphery of teeth H so as to be substantially convex.

The teeth H have a convex area it at their top. The inner section 2%; of each tooth is convex to provide cainmed surface it which is slid-- able over bearing collar i5. Provided on the outer surface at substantially the midpoint of each of the teeth is a circular notch 2'? at the lower extremity of the arcuate area 2 5. In these notches 2'? the circuitous spring is seated. Each of the teeth H has its inner surface cylindrioal below the carnmed surface 28 so that when the set of teeth are considered as a unit the bearing collar l5 and the compressible spring M are cylindrically contained. Below the notch 2'? the teeth angle outward and downward, as at 29, and their inner surface 36, when considered collectively, describe a truncated cone. The domed bearing area l3 supports each of the teeth H at this point and slides over the inner surfaces 39, as will be described hereinafter.

At the lower extremities of each of the teeth is located the tooth proper 3! which acts upon portions of the capseal wall. On the lower underside of the tooth proper 3! is a fiat sole portion 32 which engages the flat disc-like portion 33 of the capseal. A biting edge 34, which engages the cylindrically segmented lips 35 of the capseal, is located on the periphery of the teeth and is substantially semicircular in cross-section and convex about its pei l eter, these shapes being governed by the shape and contours provided on the particular closure opening. The free-edge 36 of the particular typical closure opening is curled in this instance so as to be semi-circular and concave on its inner surface when viewed in section. Other configurations may be contemplated such as to be hooked or spiralled when the mouth of the closure is viewed in cross-section. The inner surfaces of the lower extremities of the teeth, as at 3i, slope gradually upward to join with cylindrical surfaces 08 which in turn meets with the ccnal surfaces 38 of the teeth H.

It will be noted that the tracks 22 and their grooves 23 each have fiat table portions 39 and 4'5, respectively. The former have a substantially greater length than the latter. Also. the groove portions ll and 12 of the tracks '22 and the grooves 23, respectively, have similar radii for corresponding mating surfaces. These radii remain con stant throughout their respective curves. The significance of such radii uniformity will be disclosed hereinafter.

6n the upper extremes of the housing H is a pressure pad 3 which may be either integrally formed with the housing or soldered thereto. The pressure pad 43 a bored hole 441 at its center allowing the spindle if: to freely clear the housing area. A plurality of bifurcate arms i5 extend transversely across the tool so as to be respectively parallel and substantially spaced as at 36 to provide transverse slots on either side of the continuous ring i! that surrounds the pressure pads bored hole Links 253 are received in these transverse slots and are loosely pinned thereto by pins 53' passing through holes 59 in the biiurcate arms 52'; and through holes 55 provided in the lower extremes of links it. To dispel the possibility of the pins d9 sliding out of their pinning position, snap rings 52 are provided which overlap the openings of holes in the bifurcate arm and are received on ring seats provided in the extremities of the respective pins it.

The links .8 are similarly loosely pinned by snap rings 53 to the lower portion of one of the tocls operating handles 56 having a pin 55 pas. ing therethrough. Also provided on each of the operating handles it are arcuate slots 58 which allow limited rotation of the operating handles 55 about the pins 55. Passing through these slots 56 is another group of pins 5?. This latter group of pins pass through holes provided in the winged extensions 58 of a b 'idge til which surrounds the spindle H3 as at Eli and is sufficiently loose on said spindle ill to permit its free axial lflOVcment relative to the spindle. Snap rings 81 similar to the previously di closed rings securely fasten the pins 5'! within the holed winged extensions 58 of bridge at.

Spindle I!) is threaded at its upper extremities as at 62 and a hex nut 63 is screwed into place about the spindle. The underface 64 of the nut engages the upper face of the bridge 69 substantially in the area which collars the spindle l0.

Completing the tools structure, lugs 65, rounded at their ends, extend inwardly from the lower extremities of operating handles 54, thus providing ledges 56 which engage the underface 61' of the spindle collaring area of the bridge 60 and maintain the latter against the underface (it of hex nut 63.

The tool in the instant modification is designed to operate upon a capseal, consisting, as previously indicated, of a flat disc-like portion 33 and integral upstanding segmented lips 35 about the perimeter of portion 33. Residing below the capseal is a compressible gasket 68 which in turn seats upon an annular, substantially flat surface 6d, of the closure opening. The latter, a typified structure, has a cylindrical throat l8 extending axially downward from the flat surface 6%. The free edge 36 of the closure opening is curled about its perimeter to provide a curled concave annular recess ll substantially semi-circular in section and extending upwardly from the annular surface 59 at its outer perimeter. Annular recess ll is of a comparable size with biting edge 3 of each of the teeth, recess ii being larger in circumference than the biting edge 34.

The capseal is seated in place in the closure opening and the sealing tool is placed upon the capseal so that it rests upon the flat, disc-like portion 33 of the capseal.

In operation. external pressure is exerted upon the housing H by the application of downward force upon operating handles 5d. Ledges 55 on each lug 65 bear against the underface 5? of the spindle collaring area of the bridge Gil, keeping the latter fixed against the hex nut 53. Thus, lugs 65 become fulcruming points from which leverage is gained by the operating handles and about which pins 55 are permitted to rotate, limited in their displacement by the arcuate length of the slots 56.

It will be seen that the pressure of compressible spring it transmits an axial restoration force upward upon the housing ll through bearing collar l5 and the teeth H, thereby tending to displace links 48 upwardly and operating handles 54 arcuately about the aforementioned fulcruming point. Consequently, pins 5? bear against the lower parts of the slots 55$ when the tool is in use. I l

With continued downward pressure, tool han. dies 54 rotate about their fulcruming points a1 pins 55 displace links 48 downward, which d placement in turn transmits axial operating for through pins 29 to the bifurcate arms 45 pressure pads 53. The latter, together with hous ing ll are displaced uniformly axially downward around the spindle I0.

As this operating force acts thpugh the table portions 39 upon table portions dll" of the teeth Ii, compressible spring I l possesses'enough energy to keep the bearing collar i5 rigidly in place. The result is that as the housing it is displaced axially relative to bearing collar l5 and domed bearing area 83, the cammed surfaces 26 and conal surfaces 38 force the teeth ii to be displaced radially outward within the housing I? against the circuitous, circumferential spring l5, and the grooves 23 ride in tracks 24 along the table portions 39 and 49 of the flat portion 213 of the housing El and the tops of the teeth M, respectively.

With such resultant displacement, the biting edges 34 of the tooth proper 3! of each of the teeth i l engage the lips 35, bending them against the free edge 36 of the closure opening. As the teeth ii are further displaced, the biting edges 34 cause the lips 35 to bear against the upper extremes of annular recess ll and to follow the contour of the latter downward in cam-likefash- 6 ion, thereby compressing gasket 58 upon annular surface 89 and causing a sealing of the closure opening. With final outward displacement of the teeth H, the biting edges press the lips 35 into close engagement with the annular recess ll.

After the sealing operation has been completed, operating pressure on the tool handles Ed is released and the circuitous spring l6, surrounding the teeth ll, restores the latter to their original position around spindle it.

Since the above-described structures of both the capseal and the container closure are typical, it will be understood that any number of variations of both closure and capseal elements may be interposed within the confines of the outer perimeters of the described closures elements. Thus, for instance, the flat annular surface 69 may in any particular closure opening consist of partially a flat plug portion and partially an orifice opening. Similarly, the capseal may have raised portions within their above-described lips to house a cap, plug or other such similar device.

It will be seen that the combination of hearing collar I5 and the rigid spring it, as well as domed. bearing area I3 combine to provide cammed surfaces over which the teeth it may ride as they are displaced axially by a housing ll. Such friction as exists between hearing collar i5 and domed bearing area i3, and cammed surface 26 and collar surface 3| respectively, on each of the teeth, will cause a wearing such as is present in any carnmed surface. Since it is necessarily important that the teeth 5 l and especially the teeth proper 3! remain respectively aligned about spindle it so as to remain parallel thereto and thus insure proper sealing of the capseal, it can be appreciated that were such wearing uncompensated for the teeth I! would be angularly rocked from their original position even before any operating force was applied to the tool. The direction of this rocking or tilting would be dependent upon which of the two camming surfaces wears first but, in any event, proper execution of the tools sealing function would not occur.

Consequently, the above combination is designed to provide compensating means that are automatic in nature. Spring M, acting through bearing collar l5, restores the latter to a position either upward or downward on the tools spindle It. If the cammed relation between bearing collar l5 and camrned surface 2% showed greater increments of wearing, the upper portions of teeth H would ordinarily rotate in degree with respect to domed bearing area it as a result of the tension of circuitous spring it but is arrested from doing so by compressed spring l4 lengthening the relationship between shoulder l2 and the underfac of bearing collar 55. On the other hand, should the camrned relation oetween domed bearing area and surface 3c of each of the teeth H show the greater increments of wear, the tendency would be for these teeth to rotate in degree in their lower extremes with respect to bearing collar 15.51;,10 maintain the erect position of teeth H, therefore, spring M will yield to a sufiicient degreei'by reason of the op erating force axially applied-on the housing [7 being transmitted througli'ft'eeth i! downward upon bearing collar. I5,'l" tlrerehy-decreasing the normal distance between' 'the'underface of the latter and shoulder l2.

It is to be appreciated that the strength of spring 14 is quite critical. Naturally, the spring must have suflicient strength to maintain a rigid foundation for the bearing collar l so that the latter, in combination with domed bearing area I l unites to displace teeth ll uniformly radially outward and downward relative to spindle it. At the same time, there are maximum limits required for such spring strength which, should these limits be exceeded, would not allow the automatic features of these compensating means to operate eihciently. Should, for example, the lower of the two camming points show a greater increment of wear, there is a tendency for bearing collar l5 to support each of the teeth H along surface 23 solely, thereby leaving the teeth unsupported at their lower extremes. In such an instance, the upper camming point bears the brunt of the downward axial pressure upon teeth 1 l. Should this condition prevail, in addition to additional wearing at the upper camming point, there is a decreased leverage upon the teeth H. Therefore, the spring 44 must be weak enough so that when the total of the operating forc is borne upon one area, namely, bearing collar l5, instead of the two areas, namely, bearing collar I5 in combination with domed bearing area 13 as when the tool is in adjustment, that it will yield sufficiently so that the bearing collars underface will move closer to shoulder l2 thereby moving each of the teeth l axially downward. Such displacement of each of the teeth results in a restoration of the original condition wherein these teeth are radially displaced by two camming points instead of one. Since, in this latter case, the bearing collar 15 again shares the effect of the operating force with domed bearing area l3, the spring M will again be strong enough to maintain a fixed displacement between shoulder 12 and bearing collar 15.

Moreover, it will be seen that in the event of such wearing increments, such automatic compensating means keep the teeth I! in substantially the same radial position relative to spindle it that they occupied when the tool was new. Consequently, the radial displacement of the tool teeth is continued to be eifected with continued uniformity. Although the axial relation of teeth ii relative to spindle 18 changes as wearing progresses, this in no way alters the sealing operation, since the surfaces described by the biting edges 36 are substantially the same in circumference and the teeth H substantially are in the same erect position.

The importance of this feature of tool construction will be appreciated when the various conditions otherwise inherent in similar tool structures as well as in the sealing operation are considered. By maintaining the teeth H arranged about the spindle in so that when considered collectively their axes are co-axial with that of the spindle, the fiat portions 26 of the housing H as well as the flat top portions of the arcuat area 24 of each of the teeth H are uniformly, during tool use, in a plane substantially perpendicular to the tools axis. Thus, a tilting of the teeth H out of their normal position is avoided. This results in a superior method of compressing gasket 68, since when the teeth 1! are in a balanced position, sole portion 32 of the teeth proper 3| compresses the gasket throughout its width uniformly so as to maintain a planal relation throughout the under por tion of the tool that is perpendicular to the tools axls.

The tracks 22 and the grooves 23 serve a twofold purpose. By being matingly receivable within each other they provide for uniform radial displacement of the teeth 1! within the housing ll. These guiding means insure that the biting edges 34 of the teeth proper M will present a uniform engaging surface when the capseal is gathered within the confines of the curled annuli H of the container closure. These guiding means insure uniform radial displacement throughout th scaling function and accordingly have curve portions ll and 32 as well as flat table portions 39 and if! on the tracks 22 and the grooves 23, respectively.

These curve portions 4! and G2, in addition to augmenting the function of the guiding means, serv as rotating means which allow each of the teeth H to rotate within the dome is of the housing ll, thereby causing biting edge 34 to tuck the cylindrical lips 35 firmly against the curled annuli H. It is to be expected that the biting edges 34 will wear during tool life. As a result, were no means provided to overcome such wearing, the teeth proper 3! would not occupy a sufiicient area of the annuli H and would therefore not deform the lips 35 into close engagement with annuli H. To lessen the effect of such wearing on the biting edges 34, the above rotating means are therefore provided on the tool.

The curve portions i! and d2 of the tracks 22 and the grooves 23, respectively, as has been stated heretofore, have uniform radii in corresponding portions of the mating surfaces of the housing l? and the teeth 1 5. Similarly, the arouate area 2d of each of the teeth 5! has a similar conformation to its corresponding portions of the inner surface of dome l 9. By providing similar complementary arcs on teeth ii and housing ll, the teeth are adapted to rock co-axially and uniformly in the following manner. When the teeth 5 i are displaced radially they will reach a lateral limit defined by the surface of dome iii. If the teeth have worn on biting edges after a period of time lateral movement will not tuck completely all of the lips 35 of the capseal in place. A further impetus is required to finish the task.

This impetus is supplied by further axial depression by the operator. The operator, of course, merely continues his force and the tool provides the necessary tucking. Displacing teeth l I axially as before causes the lower end of each tooth H to move laterally outward as before off domed bearing area !3. However, since arcuate top portion 25 of each tooth is restrained by dome it of housing I? from further lateral movement, the teeth M will rock within the housing i! along grooves 23 and tracks 22 causing the inner reaches 25 of the teeth to depress collar iii upon spring M. This results in an upward sweeping movement by edges 3% of the teeth to engage the inner portions of lips 35. A securely tucked capseal wall is the result.

Thus, I have described a sealing tool which first moves linearly in a lateral direction and erect condition despite wear on camniing points, uneven wearing being automatically compensated for by the tool. Thereafter, if wear happens to occur on the tools biting edges by successive contacts with capseals, the teeth of the tool will rock automatically to finally tuck in any part of the capseal not completely inserted in the closure opening. This is accomplished while maintaining the same radial and axial relationship of the bodies of the teeth with respect to constant capseal dimensions.

Since the invention can be practiced in a number of designs and closure openings in an equivalent manner, a broad as distinguished from a strict reading of the following claims is desired:

I claim:

1. In a tool of the character described, a longitudinal spindle, a plurality of teeth circumiacent said spindle, work engaging feet on respective lower extremities of said teeth, a pair of longitudinally offset cam surfaces on said teeth, a pair of cammed bearing members arranged about said spindle in respectively co-operable relation with said cam surfaces, one of said bearing members being longitudinally stationary on said spindle, the other of said bearing members reciprocable along and circumjacent with respect to said spindle, longitudinal resilient means separating each of said bearing members, resilient means circumjacent to said teeth and maintaining respective cam surfaces of said teeth in cooperable relation with said bearing members, said teeth adapted to receive operating force for dis placing said teeth longitudinally with respect to said spindle, said longitudinal resilient means being of suflicient strength to suport said reciprocable bearing member in co-operable relation with adjacent cam surfaces in each of the pairs thereof only when each of said teeth are engaged on both of their cam surfaces by each of said bearing members, said longitudinal resilient means providing resilient support for said reciprocable bearing member when each of said teeth are engaged solely by said reciprecable bearing member, said longitudinal resilient means being operable to yield and thereby shorten the longitudinal separation of saidbearing members to bring said bearing members into engagement with the cam surfaces of said teeth when longitudinal pressure is applied thereto.

2. In a tool of the character described in claim 1, said reciprocable bearing memberhaving a bore bored complementary to said spindle and coaxially slidable thereon.

3. In a tool of the character described in claim 1, means for housing said teeth in grouped relation about said spindle including a lateral portion complementary to said teeth, means for displacing said housing means with respect to i said spindle.

4. In a tool of the character described in claim 1, means for housing said teeth in grouped relation about said spindle, said housing means ineluding a lateral top portion, and a bell-like portion circumjacent said top portion, each of said teeth comprising a top portion complementary to, communicable with, and slidable along respective segments of said top portion of said housing means, segments of said bell-like portion adapted to receive portions of said teeth, an arcuate portion on each tooth complementary to, communicable with, and rockable within a respective segment of said bell-like portion at the lateral terminal of said top portion of said housing means.

5. In a tool of the character described in claim 4, said bell-like portion being concave with respect to said teeth, and the segments of said belllike portion each having a radius of curvature equivalent to that of respective arcuate portions of said teeth.

6. In a tool of the character described in claim 1, means for housing said teeth in grouped relation about said spindle, said housing means communicating with said teeth, means for guiding lateral displacement of said teeth with respect to said housing means including tracks on one of the communicating surfaces of said teeth and said housing means, and grooves for receiving said tracks on the other of said communicating surfaces.

7. In a tool of the character described, a longitudinal spindle, a plurality of teeth circumjacent said spindle, work engaging feet on respective lower extremities of said teeth, a pair of cam surfaces on each or said teeth, said cam surfaces being longitudinally offset with respect to each other, a pair of cammed bearing members arranged about said spindle in respectively co-operable relation with said cam surfaces, one of said bearing members being longitudinally sta tionary on said spindle, the other of said hearing members reciprocable along and circumjacent with respect to said spindle, longitudinal resilient means separating each of said bearing members, resilient means connecting said teeth and maintaining respective cam surfaces of said teeth in co-operable relation with said bearing members, said teeth adapted to receive operating force for displacing said teeth longitudinally with respect to said spindle, means for housing said teeth in grouped relation about said spindle, said housing means including a lateral top portion, and a bell-like portion circumjacent said top portion, each of said teeth comprising a top portion complementary to, communicable with, and slidable along said top portion of said housing means, segments of said bell-like portion adapted to receive portions of said teeth, an arcuate portion on each tooth complementary to, communicable with, and rockable within a respective segment of said bell-like portion at the lateral terminal of said top portion of said housing means.

8. In a tool of the character described in claim '7, said bell-like portion concave with respect to said teeth, and the segments of said bell-like portion each having a radius of curvature equivaienthto that of respective arcuate portions of said set 9. In a tool of the character described in claim 7, means for guiding lateral displacement of said teeth with respect to said housing means including tracks on one of the communicating surfaces of said teeth and said housing means, and grooves for receiving said tracks on the other of said communicating surfaces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,585,820 Baum May 25, 1926 1,954,737 Kowal Apr. 10, 1934 2,085,879 Trump July 6, 1937 2,104,671 Pierce Jan. 4, 1938 2,204,594 Hogg June 18, 1940 

